Making it look easy

2/16/2020:”If you want to make your accomplishments appear easy, then work hard.”

Debt, debt, and more debt

2/12/2020: Debt, debt, and debt.  The government, corporate and personal debt is higher today than yesterday and will be higher yet tomorrow.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2019/08/26/us-national-debt-is-growing-rapidly-infographic/#4fdeafb53a9e

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/strategy%20and%20corporate%20finance/our%20insights/rising%20corporate%20debt%20peril%20or%20promise/rising-corporate-debt-peril-or-promise-web-final.ashx

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-household-debt-exceeds-14-160303784.html

Debt is a financial killer.  What ever happened to the ancient proverb that says to owe no one anything but to love them.  The truth that the borrower is the slave of the lender has not gone away.

Without Hope in This World?

1/20/2020: It is not uncommon to lose hope on any given situation or issue in life. Hopelessness will lead to despair and then on to desperation. This scenario is likely the cause of anti-social behavior; i.e. robbery, assault, murder, suicide, etc.

We need to learn from Abraham on how he had a promise of God, but did not think it possible considering the facts and could not be criticized to loosing hope. The Word has the solution as one might expect. However, at that moment, not sometime later, Abraham took action. He “hoped against the lost hope”. He fought back against the likely onset of hopelessness.

Abraham had the promise of God that he was to be a father of a child that would change the world as he knew it. A big promise at any age, but really unlikely at 100 years and wife likewise.

Romans 4:18-21 King James Version (KJV)
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

The solution is to be able to create a hope beyond what one would naturally be able to hope for based upon the facts. Abraham based his hope against no hope upon the promises of God. I like the wording, “he staggered not at the promise of God”. Clearly the promise was overwhelming, but it was not going to impede his walking forward without hesitation or “staggering”. He decided, although certainly without existing evidence to believe, while at the same time giving glory to God for what had yet to materialize. This is the “calling those things that are not as though they were” as in the preceding verse 17; “…even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Note this is the way God Himself does it. This is the speaking aloud which is necessary in the definition of “calling” of that which was promised from God to you specifically and that which you were willing to agree with. The “agreeing with” is the first act of faith which then is followed by the second action of faith; taking action according to and in line with what was promised.

This is not ignoring the making of evidence-based decisions. Evidence is very important, especially in medicine. Abraham had no natural evidence of even the likelihood of possibility. He only had the Word and promise of God. I laugh at myself as I often think that God’s promise is not enough.

Where did Abraham get the evidence? This may be a mystery to some who have not experienced such, but Abraham got the evidence from faith. In Hebrews 1:1 it is stated, “Now faith is the evidence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Imagine that! Faith creates the evidence. To repeat, “faith is nothing more or nothing less than agreement with the Word and willingness to take action accordingly.” So, Abraham with the evidence walked it out to the tangible reality of the promise of God with Sarah, “the father of many peoples”.

Now back to our situation. What promises of God do I have? The promises are many and listed in the Word and Will of God. For starters look at Deuteronomy 28: 1-14. Then know that they are further confirmed in our relationship with Christ. Note the necessity of “in our relationship” wording. 2 Cor1:20: “For all the promises of God in Christ are yea, and in Christ Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” Note that the purpose is not solely for our benefit, but ultimately for the glory of God by the tangible reality expressed in and for us.

Good bye despair and hello hopefulness.

Golden Rule; Value added

12/18/2019: There is value added when practicing the Golden Rule.

Even though practicing the Golden Rule is reward in itself, the Golden Rule has innate additional rewards. The Golden Rule is recorded in Matthew 7:12. The King James version is “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you: do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

First of all, there is reward in doing good absent a motive of any reward. However, there is a reward built into the Golden Rule. You will receive in return from others the like kind of your act, not necessarily from the one to whom you did good.

Please note that if you do ill to others, the principal of harvesting in like kind also is operational. This is further motivation to do good.

However, the rewards of doing good go beyond human reciprocity. In Ephesians 6:8 it is stated “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

These laws refute the too often negative proclamation; “No good deed goes unpunished”.

Prayers for Seniors

12/17/2019: As we age and I am an expert, there are increasing details of life to manage; family relations, daily activities, commitments, travel, and personal business details to name a few. So I have learned to pray asking God take care of all the details of my life. I enjoy the benefits of answers to this prayer on a daily basis. The scriptural support for this prayer is “Cast all your cares upon me, because I care for you”, said Jesus.

The other issue accompanying aging is forgetfulness. So I have learned to pray this way, “Dear Heavenly Father as you bring to rememberance your Word in my life (John 14:26), please extend the bringing to remembrance those things I tend to forget or misplace; names, dates, keys, and cell phone. Amen.

Being Led

12/17/2019: Those that are the children of God are those who are led by the Holy Spirit. This is the qualification, not a qualification. Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

I like to think of it this way. That being so, we must look at the concept of being led. This implies that the Spirit of God is in front and we are following; every part of our being. This admonition defines that the Holy Spirit would be leading our flesh, mind and will including our human spirit. It is not only a physical leading but one of thorough submission to direction in life.

Pause and think about this.